New Road has been spreading their bluegrass gospel songs for the past 11 years. Their talented members include Tom Brantley on fiddle and vocals, Vic Graves on resonator guitar and vocals, Doug Johnson on bass, Gary Kidwell on guitar and vocals, Mike Ramsey on mandolin and banjo and vocals and Stuart Wyrick on banjo, guitar and harmony vocals. Their polished sound features carefully blended harmony vocals and a blend of fiddle and resonator guitar. The mellow vocals are highlighted in “I Wonder What Our Lord Was Thinking” and the group easily shifts to high-powered banjo bluegrass in “Just One More Time.” Gary Kidwell is the author of seven of the songs and his fine lead guitar work graces his original “Waiting, Watching, Praying.” Tom Brantley’s vocal range extends from tenor to bass and he drops down into the low, low notes in the quartet “Just Look Up to God.” “They Whipped Him Up the Hill” is a strong a cappella song with a strong solo blended with a choir and an effective thunder and lightning soundtrack that would shake the rafters of any country church. The songs and presentation are a fine testament to the power of music infused with a strong message of conviction.

Reviewed by:  B Hough